Student depression: Seeking answers and offering hope

The number of college students suffering from depression and anxiety is alarmingly high. Researchers are working to find out why.

August 6, 2018

By John Arnold

Like many college students, Nicki Cupit had a lot on her plate as her graduation date approached -- a full course load, two jobs and an internship. She became overwhelmed, stressed out and depressed.

"Yeah, I kind of just lost all hope," she said. "It definitely got to the point where I didn't know how I was going to continue."

Cupit is just one of many. Depression, anxiety and other mental-health problems are on the rise at colleges across the country, and at MSU Denver, which serves a large number of first-generation, veteran and other nontraditional students, the data are even more alarming.

Researchers are trying to determine what's behind those numbers, as the University works to boost its mental-health resources for those who need them most.